Comparison of pulsed laser-assisted angioplasty and balloon angioplasty in femoropopliteal artery occlusions

Abstract

The authors performed a prospective, comparative study of 96 patients (age, 41-87 years) with femoropopliteal artery occlusions. Laser-assisted angioplasty was performed in 64 patients with 9- and 7-F over-the-wire multifiber catheters. Supplemental balloon dilation was performed after laser angioplasty. Thirty-two patients underwent excimer laser angioplasty (ELA), and 32 underwent pulsed dye laser angioplasty (DLA). The remaining 32 patients underwent conventional balloon angioplasty (BA). The length of occlusions was 3-10 cm (mean, 6.3 cm). Lesion characteristics in the three patient groups were similar. Technical success rates were 84% for ELA, 78% for pulsed DLA, and 81% for conventional BA. The 1-year clinical success rate was 69% (22 of 32 patients) in the ELA group, 63% (20 of 32 patients) in the pulsed DLA group, and 66% (21 of 32 patients) in the BA group (differences were not significant). Laser-assisted angioplasty with multifiber catheters in femoropopliteal artery occlusions did not help improve the technical success rate and 1-year clinical success rate when compared with those of conventional BA.